Bulletproof vest



dill' Patented pr. 6, 1937 Unirse stares BULLETPROOF VEST Alexander H. Dunlap, Chicago, Ill.

Application June 7, 1934, Serial No. 729,398

2 Claims.

The invention in the present instance, relates generally to an armor for the body, but more particularly to an armor or bullet proof vest which is primarily adapted for the use of protecting policemen, bank messengers, watchmen and such other individuals. It has long been Vthe practice heretofore in the construction of vests of thisvtype to completely envelope the armor plates in separate pockets or envelopes with each envelope and plate overlapping the adjacent en velope and armor plate. With this arrangement, it is necessary to interpose a cloth or fabric between the adjacent overlapping plate which as va matter oi fact, has a tendency to separate the adjacent overlapping armor plates so that in some instances bullets are ricocheted or deflected between the adjacent overlapped armor plates, resulting in the bodily injury to the wearer.A It is therefore, the primary object or the present 2O invention to overcome this difficulty and provide a novel and improved construction and arrangement in which the overlapped armor plates, in effect, positively contact one another so as to form in effect a complete metal shield over these overlapped plates without losing the flexibility -essential to the wearer.

Another object of the invention is 'to provide a novel and improved bullet proofA vest which is not only efficient, but is also an improvement 3G upon the vests of former constructions, in that, it is relatively lighter in weight and does not shock or bruise the body when hit by bullets. In general, my improved bullet proof vest consists of a series of vertically extending spring steel strips which overlap each other in shingle like arrangement with the major part of their overlapping portions held in contacting relation. The opposite ends of the steel strips are seated or secured in relatively short recesses in the supporting structure so as to prevent their dislodgment and maintain them in their contacting relationship.

This contacting relation of the overlapping steel plates affords not only suiiicient iiexibility to the wearer, but also prevents a separation of the adjacent plates with respect to each other and thereby prevents the possibility of the bullet being deiiected or ricocheted between the overlapped adjacent plates.

A still further object of the invention is to provide a novel and improved bullet prooi vest in which the overlapped contacting adjacent plates are further held in contacting relationship by a strip of adhesive material extending across the intermediate or center portion of all of the plates,

A further object of the invention is' to provide (ci. ssa-fsa) a bullet proof vest which is of new and improved construction, is light and comfortable when worn and may be manufactured at comparatively reasonable cost.

A still further object of the invention is to provide a novel and improved bullet proof vest construction in which the side portions of the vest may be detachably fastened to the back and iront so as to form in effect one integral vest, or may be, when detached, used separately.

These and other objects are accomplished by providing a construction and arrangement of the various parts in the manner hereinafter described and particularly pointed out in the appended claims.

Referring to the drawing:

Fig. l is a perspective view of a more or less conventional Iorm or vest navmg my improved Construction embodied iiiliii;

Fig. 2 is a perspective view of the detached bullet proof armor which embraces the sides of the wearer;

Fig. 3 is a front elevational View of the front portion of the vest with certain parts broken away to illustrate the construction;

Fig. 4 is an enlarged fragmentary view showing the manner in which the ends of the armor plates are secured in their overlapped position;

Fig. 5 is a cross sectional view taken on the line 5-5 in Fig. 4; i

Fig. 6 is a cross sectional view taken on the line 6 6 in Fig. 4; and

Fig. 7 is a diagrammatic View showing the man ner in which the respective sections of the vest overhang the body of the wearer.

In illustrating one form of my invention, I have shown the same in connection with the conventional form of vest, generally indicated by the reference character I0, which comprises a front portion Il, detachably connected as shown at I2 to a rear portion i3. The side portions, generally indicated by the reference character ld, may be attached by snap buttons l5 and IB so that the complete vest in effect may be one integral part or the side sections may be detached from the vest proper, as clearly shown in Figs. 1 and 2 of the drawing. The front portion of the bullet proof vest comprises three separate sections, generally indicated by the reference characters il, I8 and i9 while the rear portion of the vest proper comprises one single elongated section generally indicated by the reference character 20. The side sections shown in Fig. 2 are similarly provided with armor portions on ACJI l megan. i; ism., D.

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securing the armor plates in relatively xed flexible positions with respect to each other. The

construction of all of these sections vare essentially identical and comprise a main covering 2l which is preferably made of imitation leather or other suitable material. Secured to the upper and lower edges of the main covering 2| isa strip of material generally indicated by the reference character 22. The material 22 is stitched verti cally as shown at 23 and 24 so as to form in effect recesses 25 in which the ends of the spring steel armor plates 26 are inserted. The lower edge of e the lower strip 22 is of course, suitably stitched,

as shown at 21, to the covering 2l while the upper edge of the top strip 22 is similarly stitched, as shown at 28, for preventing displacement of the armor plates 26 from their respective overlapping position, as clearly shown in Figs. 3, 4 and 5 of the drawing.

With this arrangement, it will be noted that the spring steel armor plates, particularly the adjacent overlapping ones, contact, as shown at 28', substantially throughout their entire length with the exception of the end portions which ex tend into the recesses. This arrangement of having these plates contact, prevents any possibility of the bullets penetrating at this point, which sometimes happens in connection with bullet proof vests heretofore used Where the material separates the plate at this point.

In order to further insure contacting relation'd ly desirable to extend. a strip of surgeons tape as shown at 29, on one side or both sides of the plate at a position substantially the center there` From the above description, it will be readily cient and easily manufactured bullet proef vest,

but one that has the advantages of securing a contacting-relationship of the adjacent overlapped spring steel armor plates, thereby eliminating any possibility of entrance of the bullet between these plates by reason of their separation vsuch as has been experienced by the bullet proof vests heretofore constructed.

While in the above speciiication I have described one embodiment which my invention may assume in practice, it will of course, be understood that the same is capableof modication and that modification may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as expressed in the following claims:

What I claim as my invention and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. A bullet proof vest comprising a supporting structure, armor sections flexibly connected to said structurelsections consisting of a supporting member, separate fabric strips positioned adjacent the opposite ends of said member forming overlapping recesses, a plurality of sets of armor plates having their ends engaged in said recesses,

' seen that I have not only provided a simple, eilieach set of plates overlapping the next adjacent set and a covering embracing said armor plates tightly whereby the overlapped portions of said plates contact the adjacent plates substantially throughout their length.

2. A bullet pro`of vest comprising a supporting structure, armor sections iiexibly connected toy `porting member, separate fabric strips positioned adjacent the opposite ends oi said members .forming 'overlapping recesses, and a plurality of armor plates having their ends solely engaged in said recesses, certain of'saicl overlapping plates into contacting relationship with the next adjacent plate so as to contact substantially throughout their entire length for preventing an opening therebetween.

ALEXANDER H. DUNLAP. 

